No. 2 UNC Comes Out Firing, Defeats Wake Forest 5-1

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 2 North Carolina scored twice within the first 10 minutes of the game to set the tone early in a 5-1 win over the ninth-ranked Wake Forest field hockey team Saturday at Frances E. Henry Stadium.

The Tar Heels remain undefeated on the year at 11-0 and are now 2-0 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons have lost four straight contests and sit at 6-5, 1-2 ACC.

Senior Emily Cummings scored the only goal for the Deacs, finding the back of the cage early in the second half at the 37:10 mark. The goal was the first one Cummings has scored on the year.

North Carolina scored its first goal in the third minute when Elizabeth Stephens beat Wake goalkeeper Kaitlyn Ruhf. Katie Ardrey gave the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead when she scored just over seven minutes later at the 9:12 mark.

UNC added one more goal in the first half when Caitlin Van Sickle scored her eighth goal of the season in the 30th minute, giving the Heels a 3-0 halftime lead.

Less than two minutes into the second half, Taryn Gjurich scored UNC's fourth goal after taking a pass from Stephens at 36:47. Cummings scored her goal 23 seconds later to end North Carolina's shutout bid.

Katie Plyler scored the last goal of the game and Van Sickle tallied the assist in the 59th minute. Jackie Kintzer earned the win in goal by making two saves, while Ruhf took the loss with seven saves.

The Tar Heels outshot the Demon Deacons 23-4 and had 10 penalty corners compared to just four for the Deacs.

Wake Forest will be in action again tomorrow when it hosts California at 1 p.m. at Kentner Stadium.